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Topic Review (Newest First)

04-14-2016 06:43 PM

Zoomy

It's been nearly a year since my handy DH built this stand for my 50g. Recently he built the shelves above as a means to store stuff and suspend my light (the shelves are attached to the wall via cleat, so super sturdy). The turnbuckles were my idea. They're really perfect for making micro-adjustments to the hight and leveling of the light.

At this point, it looks like it's a very regional thing - none of the stores in my area have stud grade 4x4s. They do appear to have cedar 4x4 fence posts though. Hmmm. Naturally, they don't carry matching 2x4s.

Slightly annoyed - we had a bunch of lumber sawed up by someone with a portable saw mill. FIL gave away what wasn't used for a deck that...was a bad idea since it wasn't pressure treated. Eh, stuff would probably be so deteriorated by now it would be a bad idea for this too.

Not sure what lengths you're willing to go to, but when I made one of these stands I had clear vertical grain douglas fir 4x4s and 2x4s delivered from this company: http://www.onlinelumberstore.com/lumber. They also carry western red cedar and redwood. I've ordered from them several times since for other projects, and have been very satisfied with my experiences. They do residential shipping with no minimum on how much you have to purchase, and it's beautiful wood.

08-25-2015 11:54 AM

TINNGG

At this point, it looks like it's a very regional thing - none of the stores in my area have stud grade 4x4s. They do appear to have cedar 4x4 fence posts though. Hmmm. Naturally, they don't carry matching 2x4s.

Slightly annoyed - we had a bunch of lumber sawed up by someone with a portable saw mill. FIL gave away what wasn't used for a deck that...was a bad idea since it wasn't pressure treated. Eh, stuff would probably be so deteriorated by now it would be a bad idea for this too.

07-28-2015 11:37 PM

TINNGG

'kay. May have to investigate another store. The one I was at yesterday appeared to have nothing untreated.

I was looking at bannister posts. They have some that are 4x4 top and bottom, but they're too long and I'm not sure I could trim enough off them to make them useable. Still can't figure out who needs a bannister 4-5' high.

Heh; looks like my angelfish gave me a need for a new tank, pest mart's price matching petco gave me a great deal on it, and now I need a stand because I don't want to leave that thing on my kitchen counter forever.

Such hardship.

A contractor's pack contains exactly enough of the brackets. Lowes only had 3 on the shelf, but a whole box above. I got the box, so now they still have 3 on the shelf.

Now, has anyone found a 4x4 that's NOT pressure treated?

Home Depot sells stud grade 4X4's and Lowe's doesn't. There's still some other home centers / lumberyards around, but not many that may have them.

07-27-2015 02:59 PM

TINNGG

The RTC42 equivalent. This is made by a different company though.

Basically, that's what the case is labeled as - a contractor pack - and it contains 8.

Heh; looks like my angelfish gave me a need for a new tank, pest mart's price matching petco gave me a great deal on it, and now I need a stand because I don't want to leave that thing on my kitchen counter forever.

Such hardship.

A contractor's pack contains exactly enough of the brackets. Lowes only had 3 on the shelf, but a whole box above. I got the box, so now they still have 3 on the shelf.

Now, has anyone found a 4x4 that's NOT pressure treated?

Which brackets did you get? The package I posted was for 2x4s only:

I didn't kn ow they had contractor packs for the larger versions?

07-26-2015 04:17 PM

TINNGG

Heh; looks like my angelfish gave me a need for a new tank, pest mart's price matching petco gave me a great deal on it, and now I need a stand because I don't want to leave that thing on my kitchen counter forever.

Such hardship.

A contractor's pack contains exactly enough of the brackets. Lowes only had 3 on the shelf, but a whole box above. I got the box, so now they still have 3 on the shelf.

Now, has anyone found a 4x4 that's NOT pressure treated?

07-26-2015 12:51 AM

oldpunk78

Has anyone done this type of stand and used a coastal grey stain? If so, pics would be awesome!

07-08-2015 07:43 PM

Beefy

That kit is a great way to get everything. All the individual goodies are hard to get in Canada unless you special order! *BUY*

Here is my version of the stand. My father helped me put it together. I used 2x4s only- I did not use the 3x3 posts (they wouldn't fit this size tank- 20 gallon tall), so I had to use different braces than those used by hydrophyte. The wood is cheap fir, it cost about $10. The Strong Tie braces I used were these:

I painted the braces with latex acrylic paint- most spray paint will not stick to galvinazed metal.

Actually quite nice. Sometime time simple is just the best.

07-08-2015 03:10 PM

Aplomado

Here is my version of the stand. My father helped me put it together. I used 2x4s only- I did not use the 3x3 posts (they wouldn't fit this size tank- 20 gallon tall), so I had to use different braces than those used by hydrophyte. The wood is cheap fir, it cost about $10. The Strong Tie braces I used were these:

DH would kill me if I brought in another tank for a stand like this, not to mention his reaction at "honey, could you build this stand for me?" OTOH, it would actually coordinate with the TV stand I insisted he wait and let me order.

05-09-2015 08:51 PM

Zoomy

Yay, he found them...I was thinking I'd have to buy a silver paint marker and color over the gold screws.

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